We’ve been working on this new project for the last year and we’re happy to announce Lucia, Your Luxury Travel Designer. This is a new brand and business of our travel agency Exclusive Connection.

Lucia, the brand for private and luxury experiences in Florence and Italy

We created Lucia to offer dedicated and luxury services to special travelers, business companies and all those who look for a unique experience in Italy like a private tour to the Uffizi Gallery by night, the company’s party at Palazzo Colonna in Rome and other exclusive events.

The brand Lucia is specialized in travel design, events management in Florence and other Italian exclusive locations. Thanks to our network and our local experts we can plan and organize your luxury Italian event, wedding and business party in almost any museum, private building and location.

Last but not least, Lucia is the local planner your’re looking for your luxury Italy trip: we offer authentic personalized tours, special openings of museums and collections (even for 2 of you), as well as exclusive experiences.

Lucia Luxury Travel

Whay choose Lucia for your next Italy trip and event

The brand Lucia is professional, and counts on Lucia Montuschi knowledge and her high-qualified team.

The brand Lucia is the Luxury Business Unity of Exclusive Connection Tour Operator.

The brand Lucia is the local partner you are looking for to organize your business event in Florence and Italy.

It’s been 25 years since the terrorist attack happened in Florence in the night between May 26th and 27th, just few steps away from the Uffizi Gallery. The attack was carried out by the Sicilian Mafia and killed 5 persons, injured 40 people and damaged many works of art. One of those is The Card Players by Bartolomeo Manfredi.

May 27th 1993, 1.05 am – The explosion in the heart of Florence

It was 1.05 am when a car packed full of explosives and parked in via dei Georgofili exploded: the roar in the night was terrible and was heard from far far away: the medieval Tower dei Pulci, headquarter of Accademia dei Georgofili, collapsed together with all the windows of the Uffizi Gallery and the Vasari Corridor and the other buildings nearby.

The damaged artworks were about 400, luckily the masterpieces by Botticelli and other Renaissance artists, were protected by their protection glasses and not ruined; in total 103 artworks were seriously damaged. The Card Playersby 17th century painter Bartolomeo Manfredi was terribly damaged: more than 500 pieces were picked up, one by one, by the Uffizi keepers in the next days.

The Card Players: yesterday, today and tomorrow

The painting by Bartolomeo Manfredi was hanged at the beginning of the Vasari Corridor, since the second half of the ’70s: Luciano Berti, Uffizi’s Director at that time, decided to open the Vasari Corridor to guided tours and displayed at the its entrance, several artworks from the 17th century Caravaggeschi.

The Card Players by Bartolomeo Manfredi was irremediably damaged and became the symbol of the Via dei Georgofili bombing, and displayed in the Uffizi Gallery for years as memento of the tragic event.

The painting has recently been carefully restored by Florentine restorer Daniela Lippi, who carefully put back together the 500 pieces to give a new life to this, believed completely lost, painting. Her work was filmed by journalist Luca Galassi in the documentary The Care (here the link to the crowdfunding campaign) and told in the book “Cultura contro terrore”.

After 25 years The Card Players is back to the Uffizi Gallery:it will be on display at the Vasari Auditorium until June 3rd – information here. You may find more information also in our free ebook about the Vasari Corridor!

The Museum Zeffirelli, and International Center for the Arts and Enterntainment dedicated to the Maestro

Last October opened in Florence a new museum: the Museum Franco Zeffirelli, dedicated to the artistic and cultural heritage of a seventy-year career.

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence in 1923 and is one of the most famous and awarded Italian directors, as well as producer of operas, films and television; he was nominated 14 times for an Oscar, won 5 David di Donatello and several international awards. His films and operas are authentic maserpieces, that are now available to Florence, his city, and the world.

The Zeffirelli collection displays 250 works by the Maestro including sketches, pictures and original costumes. The exhibition is chronologically subdivided in Prose Theatre, Opera and Cinema.

Openings and Tours of Zeffirelli Museum

The Museo Zeffirelli is located inside the monumental Complex of San Firenze in the city center of Florence, just few steps from Palazzo Vecchio. It’s opened from 10am to 6pm every day, except on Thusdays; ticket costs 10€ per person, while children under 6 years old are free.

What we like about our job? Persons like you, together with the love for art and history. We really care about what you think and we want to thank all of our customers that took the time to write a review: we have been awarded with the”Certificate of Excellence” by TripAdvisor!